Scientists reveal whether tap or bottled water is safer after reviewing toxic chemicals
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Millions of Americans buy bottled water due to concerns about chemicals in tap water - but they could actually be harming their health. According to the International Bottled Water Association, Americans drink some 15 billion gallons of bottled water each year—around 45 gallons per person.
![[Though safer than bottled water, tap water is not without risks. Some research has found nearly half of US drinking water samples contain forever chemicals linked to cancer and heart disease (stock image)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/16/19/94183957-14292761-image-a-15_1737057065249.jpg)
However, recent studies have shown bottled water may not be as safe as it seems. Last year, a sweeping review found up to three quarters of bottled water contains harmful microplastics, which leach from packaging into our blood and accumulate in our organs, causing untold damage.
This led the researchers to conclude that 'tap water is generally safe, inexpensive, convenient, and eco-friendly.'. However, other research has found as many as 100million Americans could be exposed to forever chemicals in their tap water. Now, amid the growing body of research, some scientists now say definitively that tap water is 'by and large safe,' better regulated and contains fewer microplastics than bottled varieties.
Experts warned that bottled water could be teeming with microplastics, tiny particles linked to hormone issues, infertility, and cancer. Dr Phoebe Stapleton, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Rutgers University, told Food & Wine: 'Tap water has gotten a bad reputation with the rise, availability, and advertising of bottled water.
'However, tap water has been demonstrated to be a better choice. 'It is less expensive, more environmentally friendly — especially considering bottle production, processing, packaging, distribution, and disposal — and is consistently regulated at the state and federal level.'.
